Support assembly for eliminator blades

ABSTRACT

A support assembly for facilitating installation and removal of eliminator blades for cleaning includes a base having a plurality of spaced bars extending transversely of a plurality of spaced vertical eliminator blades, the bars having a plurality of spaced aligned grooves therein receiving a marginal portion of a blade, at least one such transverse bar spaced above the base, and a movable bar having similar grooves therein is insertable adjacent the top of the blades so that the grooves receive and support marginal portions of the blades.

United States Patent Wyman et al. Feb. 4, 1975 [54] SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR ELIMINATOR 3,504,484 4/1970 Buffet 55/257 BLADES 3,616,604 11/1971 Schouw 55/440 x [76] Inventors: g k gy g gggggga g Primary Examiner-Frank W. Lutter g" ki F Assistant Examiner-William Cuchlinski, Jr. sx g g g Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bailey & Dority [22] Filed: Dec. 29, 1972 57 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 319,747 A support assembly for facilitating installation and removal of eliminator blades for cleaning includes a [52] U S Cl 55/440 55/464 SS/DIG 31 base having a plurality of spaced bars extending trans- [511 B0ld 45/08 versely of a plurality of spaced vertical eliminator [58] i 462 465 blades, the bars having a plurality of spaced aligned SSIDIG grooves therein receiving a marginal portion of a blade, at least one such transverse bar spaced above the base, and a movable bar having similar grooves [56] References Clted therein is insertable adjacent the top of the blades so UNITED STATES PATENTS that the grooves receive and support marginal portions 1,686,144 lO/l928 Colbert 55/440 X of the blades 3,276,193 10/1966 Lamb 55 440 X 3,285,156 11/1966 Bohanon 55/440 x 4 Chums, 3 Drawing Flgllres 1 SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR ELIMINATOR BLADES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The eliminator blades described herein may be but are not necessarily of the type described in U.S. letters Patent No. 3,338,035. Generally, eliminator assemblies constructed in accordance with the patent include blades which have installation requiring insertion of the blades in an upper support prior to being aligned at the base. Since a conventional frame is used in the assembly for positioning the blades, it is difficult to align and position the lower portions of the eliminator blades in the spaced slots provided in horizontal members located adjacent the base. Another eliminator blade assembly is illustrated in US. letters Patent No. 3,504,484, wherein the eliminator blades are positioned for lateral swinging movement from supports at the top from which the eliminator blades depend. A comb is provided with means for positioning same adjacent the base of the assembly. Such a construction has the disadvantage of providing very little room within which to work, and the blades are not positively positioned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been found that the installation and removal of eliminator blades may be facilitated by providing an assembly wherein a base portion includes a plurality of spaced bars extending transversely of the spaced vertical eliminator blades. The bars have a plurality of spaced aligned grooves therein permitting insertion of the blades into the grooves from the top. At least one such transverse bar is spaced above the base and the grooves receive a marginal portion of a blade in each of the grooves. A movable bar having such grooves therein may be used to comb a side edge of the blades upperwardly facilitating positioning of the blades within the grooves of the aforesaid bar which is spaced about the base. The movable bar may then be inserted adjacent the top of the blades so that the blades are then positively positioned by the respective bars. It has also been found that the positive positioning of the blades may be facilitated by employing substantially V- shaped grooves having a notch adjacent the base thereof for receiving an annular portion of a blade therein.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other'features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view, looking toward the exit end, illustrating a support assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention, with parts omitted for clarity of illustration,

FIG. 2 is a longtitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 2-2 in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view with parts omitted for clarity of illustration.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drawings illustrate a support assembly for eliminator blades, such as are used to separate moisture particles from a moving gas stream. A base A includes a plurality of spaced bars extending transversely of a plurality of spaced vertical eliminator blades. The bars have a plurality of aligned grooves B therein spaced in accordance with the spacing of the blades receiving a marginal base portion of a blade in respective grooves. At least one such transverse bar C is spaced above the base, the grooves of which receive a marginal portion ofa blade in respective grooves therein. A movable bar D having such grooves therein is inserted transversely adjacent the top of the blades, the grooves of which receive a marginal portion of a blade in respective grooves. Thus, the blades may be readily installed and removed for cleaning. At least some of the grooves B include inwardly converging sides defining a substantially V-shaped opening at an edge of the bar. Substantially parallel sides extend inwardly from an inner portion of each of the inwardly converging sides, and a bottom together with said parallel sides define a substantially rectangular notch at the base of each of said V-shaped grooves for receiving and positively and accurately positioning a blade therein.

The support assembly is illustrated as being positioned between insulated walls 10 and 11 of a washer section, such as is used in an air handling unit to condition the air of manufacturing plants. One phase of conditioning the air may involve spraying water in a fine spray from the vertical array of spray pipes (not shown). Air from the spray area then passes through the eliminator section where water droplets carrying contaminants removed from the air are separated from the stream of air which finally passes as conditioned air from the eliminator section to the plant or similar area. The spaced eliminator blades 12 are positioned longitudinally at the bottom by an angle 13 which is rigidly connected as by rivets 14 to channel support members 15. The channel support members are spaced within a pan 16 which receives the water which flows down the eliminator blades for recycling in the air conditioning apparatus.

The base further includes a plurality of spaced bars A extending transversely of spaced vertical eliminator blades 12. The bars A are secured as by rivets 17 passing through a horizontal leg 17b to the channel supports 15. The bars have a plurality of aligned grooves 8 carried therein in a vertical leg 17a. The grooves B, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, have substantially V- shaped openings adjacent the edge of the bar. The V- shaped openings are defined by inwardly converging sides 18 which join substantially parallel sides 19 which extend inwardly toward a bottom 20 forming a terminal notch 21. A marginal portion 12a of a blade is received within the rectangular notch 21 thus formed within the bar.

At least one such transverse bar C is spaced above the base and includes a flat portion 22, together with a vertical leg 23. The vertical leg is fastened as by rivets 24 to an angle member 25 which is suitably secured as by rivets 26 to the wall 11.

A cover 27 has a depending lip 27a carried adjacent a free edge thereof. The cover 27 has a downwardly inclined portion 27b adjacent its opposite edge which is fastened to a hinge 28 as by rivets 29. The hinge 28, is,

28 turn, fastened to a support member 29 as by rivets which supports the blades in operation may be raised about the hinge for easy inspection and removal of the blades.

A bracket member has a vertical wall 33 and a leg 34 eliminator blades. The opposite edge of the vertical wall has a transversely extending wall 37 which carries a marginal fastening portion 38 for attachment as by r rivets 39 to the wall 11. Thus, the spacing between blades is preserved, since no irregular spacing occurs between an end blade and the adjacent wall.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A support assembly for eliminator blades used to separate particles from a moving gas stream comprising: a base including a plurality of spaced bars extending transversely of a plurality of spaced vertical eliminator blades; said bars having a plurality of aligned grooves therein, spaced in accordance with the spacing of the blades, receiving a marginal base portion of a blade in respective grooves; at least one such transverse bar spaced above the base, the grooves of which receive a marginal side portion of a blade in respective grooves; and a movable detached bar having such grooves therein insertable transversely adjacent the top of said blades, the grooves of which receive a marginal portion of a blade in respective grooves; whereby the blades may be readily installed and removed for clean- 2. The support assembly set forth in claim 1, at least some of said grooves including, inwardly converging sides defining a substantially V-shaped opening at an edge of said bar, substantially parallel sides extending inwardly from an inner portion of each of said inwardly converging sides, and a bottom together with said parallel sides defining a substantially rectangular notch at the base of of each of said V-shaped grooves for receiving and positively and accurately positioning a blade therein.

3. The support assembly set forth in claim 1, including, a cover for a top portion of said blades, and hinge means carrying said cover thereon.

4. The support assembly set forth in claim 1 including, a bracket having a vertical wall at an angle approximating an angle of the blade. 

1. A support assembly for eliminator blades used to separate particles from a moving gas stream comprising: a base including a plurality of spaced bars extending transversely of a plurality of spaced vertical eliminator blades; said bars having a plurality of aligned grooves therein, spaced in accordance with the spacing of the blades, receiving a marginal base portion of a blade in respective grooves; at least one such transverse bar spaced above the base, the grooves of which receive a marginal side portion of a blade in respective grooves; and a movable detached bar having such grooves therein insertable transversely adjacent the top of said blades, the grooves of which receive a marginal portion of a blade in respective grooves; whereby the blades may be readily installed and removed for cleaning.
 2. The support assembly set forth in claim 1, at least some of said grooves including, inwardly converging sides defining a substantially V-shaped opening at an edge of said bar, substantially parallel sides extending inwardly from an inner portion of each of said inwardly converging sides, and a bottom together with said parallel sides defining a substantially rectangular notch at the base of of each of said V-shaped grooves for receiving and positively and accurately positioning a blade therein.
 3. The support assembly set forth in claim 1, including, a cover for a top portion of said blades, and hinge means carrying said cover thereon.
 4. The support assembly set forth in claim 1 including, a bracket having a vertical wall at an angle approximating an angle of the blade. 